Around the colossal insect, the wind blades, vaguely tinged with a faint blue-green hue, were the very embodiment of wind elemental force condensed to an extreme degree. Moreover, they were so dense, there was fundamentally no space for evasion.

Had Jiang Wang remained in his original position, the consequences were nigh unimaginable.

Now, he was concealed high above, observing, though the maddened behemoth below remained unseen. He would simply await the creature’s exhaustion before descending to deliver a decisive blow.

Perhaps due to the mobilization of a vast quantity of wind elemental force, the colossal insect’s control over the sandstorm had diminished. The strange beasts caught in the tempest finally regained some semblance of autonomy.

From his vantage point within the eye of the wind, Jiang Wang witnessed several peculiar creatures that had been swept past earlier now “drilling” in from the periphery.

That golden-footed centipede, its myriad golden legs propelling it through the air like oars on water, entered the eye of the wind as if rowing. Its position was less than ideal, within the reach of the wind blades. Yet, he saw its golden legs curl inward, its entire body instantly transforming into a burnished gold bar, radiating a dazzling brilliance. This sight left Jiang Wang utterly bewildered, unsure whether it was a centipede or a hedgehog.

A cascade of metallic clangs echoed as it endured the relentless cutting of the wind blades, unyielding and steadfast!

The second creature to squeeze into the eye of the wind was that enormous yellowish-brown toad. No sooner had it entered than its tongue shot out like an arrow, moving with such velocity that it left trails of afterimages in its wake. It struck and dispersed countless wind blades, one after another. However, its gargantuan form was a disadvantage; a single tongue was utterly insufficient to protect its entirety. Its back was a crisscross of dense wounds inflicted by the wind blades.

Nevertheless, considering its sheer size, these injuries were insignificant. Moreover, what flowed from the wounds was not crimson blood, but rather pools of putrid, mud-like substances, utterly repulsive.

The final entrant was the white-tailed scorpion, the very one that had relentlessly pursued Jiang Wang during the initial tempest. Its two pincers “tore” open the swirling winds, slowly forcing their way in.

Simultaneously with its entry, the golden-footed centipede and yellowish-brown toad, already within the eye of the wind, appeared agitated.

The golden-footed centipede’s legs suddenly splayed open. Risking a few cuts from the wind blades, over a hundred golden legs raked the air. Its body flashed, and it astonishingly pierced directly through the colossal insect’s form, “stabbing” into it!

The yellowish-brown toad, unwilling to be outdone, launched itself forward, its sturdy hind legs pushing off the air, colliding head-on with the colossal insect. Its size was slightly less than the giant insect’s, but in a half-crouch, it was roughly the same height. Head against head they met. Its long tongue shot out like a spear, slamming directly into the colossal insect’s maw. It appeared as though these two monsters were locked in a grotesque embrace. Yet, Jiang Wang clearly saw that countless of the colossal insect’s fine, ferocious teeth were being shattered and pulverized!

Only then did Jiang Wang realize these creatures were here to seize the spoils. Had Jiang Wang not injured the colossal insect, the strange beasts ensnared and swept away by it would likely have been crushed to death within the sandstorm, ultimately to be devoured by the colossal insect. But now, with the giant insect weakened, they were about to turn the tables and devour it instead!

After the golden-footed centipede and yellowish-brown toad launched their attacks, the wind blades surrounding the colossal insect’s body had already dissipated. Its colossal form writhed wildly in the air, clearly in immense pain.

The white-tailed scorpion, the last to enter the eye of the wind, remained unhurried. At this opportune moment, it lightly leaped, landing upon the frenzied colossal insect’s body. Given its size and weight, the colossal insect, in its agony, likely felt nothing. However, this white-tailed scorpion casually raised its white tail and lightly stung the colossal insect’s body.

The colossal insect’s massive body, like a deflating air sac, rapidly shriveled at a visible pace! The furious winds that had whipped up sand and stones suddenly ceased. The sky-obscuring sandstorm, remarkably, stopped!

The golden-footed centipede, with even greater speed than when it burrowed in, surged out of the colossal insect’s body. The yellowish-brown toad also retracted its tongue without delay. Colorful liquids, ranging from the colossal insect’s mouth, eyes, and even its tail, poured out from all its “orifices.” This was the very reason for the colossal insect’s “shriveling.” In less than three breaths’ time, the flesh beneath its skin had transformed into these vibrant fluids. So utterly venomous!

With the sandstorm halted, the eye of the wind became even calmer. Yellow sand permeated the air, and broken stones and various grotesque corpses rained down. The colossal insect’s shriveled carcass, reduced to little more than a skin sac, also began to gently float down. Everything was in descent.

Only the golden-footed centipede, yellowish-brown toad, and white-tailed scorpion remained suspended in the air, unmoving, forming a triangular standoff. They eyed each other warily, seemingly poised to contend for something.

Just then, a black shadow descended from the heavens, and a massive sword light erupted. The colossal insect’s skin sac was instantly cleaved open.

The three strange beasts were momentarily startled. They then saw a sword appear in their vision, its tip delving into the giant insect’s interior, retrieving a green, round bead.

And then,

*Bang bang bang bang bang!*

Accompanied by the person, the sword, and the green bead, a torrent of fiery light streaked away with extreme speed.

The three strange beasts were momentarily stunned before they realized what had transpired.

The golden-footed centipede, the fastest of the trio, raked the air with hundreds of golden legs, transforming into a golden blur. The yellowish-brown toad followed closely behind, its hind legs pushing off the ground, creating a massive pit. Its ejection speed was not much slower than the golden-footed centipede’s. Only the white-tailed scorpion paused for a moment in its original spot; speed was likely not its forte. It seemed to accept the reality, lightly leaping onto a mass of some unknown monster’s flesh, lowering its head to slowly begin gnawing.

Golden light streaked across the sky.

*Dong dong dong.*

The enormous yellowish-brown toad, with each hop, left a sand pit, rapidly disappearing into the distance.

Only then did Jiang Wang emerge from the sand pit – the concealing garment was indeed effective. At this point, he finally had the leisure to examine his recent acquisition. It was a round bead, about a third the size of his fist. It felt remarkably smooth in his grasp, its color a sky blue mixed with a wisp of cloud white, exquisitely beautiful.

As for its effect…

Jiang Wang casually formed a seal, conjured a wind blade, and directed it towards himself, approaching from a distance. Holding the bead, Jiang Wang neither dodged nor evaded. As the wind blade neared, it silently dispersed before him.

Jiang Wang had no particular mastery in wind movement dao techniques, yet he performed every wind movement dao technique he knew, and in front of this bead, they were all rendered ineffective. This was the essence of that colossal insect, inheriting its innate talent: an extraordinary control over wind elemental force. This was a naturally formed magic tool, deserving of the name “Fixed Wind Bead.” An absolute treasure.

However, Jiang Wang did not linger on it with excessive affection. He casually put it away and raised a finger to summon the mist-like pursuit grass. He was a man of resolute purpose; a sandstorm, or even existing gains, would not deter him from his initial goals.

As early as when the Tian family’s party passed, he had gathered the qi of several of their members, specifically choosing those with weaker cultivation, making tracking them far more convenient now.

The mist-like pursuit grass paused for a moment before indicating a direction. To avoid being misled, Jiang Wang immediately used pursuit on several other individuals, and the final guided direction was consistent. Only then did he set off rapidly in pursuit.

Meanwhile, within the Tian family’s team, they continued their trek, following the route Tian Anping had meticulously planned. The dangers encountered along the way were all resolved one by one. Every measure Tian Anping had prepared perfectly corresponded to the crises they faced. Even if they harbored resentment and fear towards that individual, they could not deny his capability.

“I don’t know why, but I have a strange premonition, as if something has been overlooked,” Tian Chang suddenly remarked during their march.

“Got it,” Tian Yong, who rarely agreed with him, retorted. “We’re almost at our destination, what’s the point of a premonition?”

Liu Si, the only female cultivator in the team, then offered comfort: “Don’t overthink it. Focus on the present. We’ve made it this far, what else could happen? Even if you overlooked something, he couldn’t possibly have.” Liu Si’s “he” naturally referred to the one who had planned every detail within the hidden star world, Tian Anping.

Tian Chang fell silent. Even if extremely unwilling, he had to confront his inner thoughts. Anyone could make a mistake, including himself.

But that monstrous individual… it was almost impossible for him to err.